Machine for distributing fruit in rows on drying trays



are 16, 1948. N. E. GADDINI I 2,437,950

MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING FRUIT IN ROWS ON DRYI'NG TRAYS Original FiledMay 1, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet l @GDGDQ INVENTOR ME Gadaini Arr-rs 16, 1948.N. E. GADDINI 2,437,950

MACHINE FOR DISTRI BUTING FRUIT IN ROWS ON DRYING TRAYS Original FiledMay 1, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ME, Gaddinb' March 16, 1948. N. E.GADDINI MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING FRUIT IN ROWS 0N DRYING TRAYS OriginalFiled May 1, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR MEGaaaini 16, 1948. N. E.GADDINI 2,437,950

MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING FRUIT IN ROWS ON DRYING TRAYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Original Filed May 1, 1944 INVENTOR March 16, 1948. N. E. GADDINI2,437,950

I I MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING FRUIT IN ROWS ON DRYING TRAYS OriginalFiled May 1, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Page INVENTOR Gaadini ATTYS ?atentedMar. 16, 1948 STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR DISTRIBUTING FRUIT INROWS ON DRYING TRAYS Divided and this application March 5, 1945, SerialNo. 581,036

18 Claims. (01. 226-14) This invention relates in general to fruitmachinery; the present application being a division of copendingapplication, Serial No. 533,548, filed May 1, 1944, now U. S. Patent No.2,403,516, dated July 9, 1946.

One object of the present invention is to provide a fruit handlingmachine arranged to receive previously halved and pitted fruit and toautomatically distribute the fruit halves on dehydrator trays insymmetrical row-by-row relation whereby to not only efiect a saving inlabor and time, but to also avoid bruising of the fruit halves, as isfrequently attendant manual loading of dehydrator trays.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic trayloading machine in which the distributing mechanism for the fruit halvesis adapted to be fed, by a conveyor of special construction, directlyfrom an automatic fruit pitting and halving machine, whereby manualhandling of the fruit halves between said pitting and halving machineand the tray loading machine is entirely eliminated.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide, in an automatictray loading machine, a novel fruit-half distributing mechanism whichincludes a transfer shuttle arranged to receive fruit halves from aconveyor and to deposit such halves in parallel rows onto a dehydratortray disposed below but adjacent the shuttle; there being traysupporting and control means operative to move each tray step by step ina direction transversely of the shuttle and in predetermined timedrelation thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivedevice, and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purposefor which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relativearrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the followingspecification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the drying tray supporting and controlmechanism, together with the means for depositing the fruit halves fromthe carry-on" conveyor onto a transfer shuttle, and thence onto the trayin rows.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section on line 2-2 ofFig. 1, showing the shuttle partialiy loaded, and as having justreceived a pair of fruit halves from the conveyor above.

Figure 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing'the fruit-half stopand locating unit.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1,showing the shuttle as approaching a fruit depositing position.

Figure 6 is a transverse section on line 66 of Fig. 5, showing therelease means for the shuttle cradle or fruit retaining plates.

Figure '7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but shows the shuttle moved toadjacent the limit of its stroke and with the fruit released therefromand deposited on the tray, but prior to the transverse shifting of thetray.

Figure Bis a cross section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the shuttlecradle plates spread or opened to discharge the fruit therefrom.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation on line 99 ofFig. 1, with the fruit trays partly broken away, and illustrating theaction of the mechanism in which, when the adjacent and abutting sidesof the trays are reached, releases the stop of the pawl lever whichcontrols the transverse tray movement, and thus subsequently allows of agreater than normal lever and tray movement.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan of the stop release mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the tray loading machine comprises a horizontal continuouslymoving endless conveyor, indicated generally at 73, and which conveyorcomprises transversely spaced, driven endless chains 14 which run at oneend on transversely spaced sprockets 15; said chains being driven sothat the adjacent reaches thereof travel toward the sprockets 15, asindicated by the arrow in Fig. 1.

A multiplicity of flexible and resilient conveyor plates 18 are hinged,in end to end relation, to the chains i l with the conveyor plates ofthe separate chains disposed in inwardly converging relation; saidflexible and resilient conveyor plates being supported, along the upperrun of the conveyor, by fixed horizontal rods 13 disposed therebeneathand mounted on suitable supports 80. As so supported the conveyor plates18 are adapted to receive fruit halves H from a fruit pitting andhalving machine, as shown for example in the above identified co-pendingapplication, and to convey said halves to a dehydrator tray-loadingmechanism constructed as follows:

The end portion of the conveyor 13 which ineludes the sprockets Iprojects some distance in overhanging relation to a dehydratortray-supporting and shifting unit, indicated generally at 82, and saidunit being arranged to support dehydrator trays 83 in alined end to endor side by side relation, and to intermittently shift said trays in adirection transversely of or at right angles to the direction ofmovement of conveyor 13, as will hereinafter appear in detail, The traysupporting and shifting unit includes a pair of spaced endless chains 84carried on sprockets 85 on parallel end shafts 86{ such shafts beingjournaled on a supporting frame 81. The trays ride on and extend betweenthe upper runs of chains 84, and may be held in proper alinement bychain engaging cleats 88 on the bottom of the trays. The conveyor 13overhangs the trays 83 slightly more than one-half the width thereof.

Special rails 89 are frame-mounted horizontally above the trays butbelow conveyor I3 in symmetrical, parallel relation thereto, and saidrails extend at the ends beyond the sides of the trays 83. A fruit-halftransfer shuttle 90 is supported by wheels 9| riding on rails 89. Saidshuttle includes a rectangular and elongated, open frame 92 on whichsaid wheels are secured. Within frame 92 the shuttle carries a pair oftransversely spaced, longitudinally extending fruit-half retaining orcradle plates 93 which curve downwardly and inwardly, as shown, and arenormally spaced less than the diameter of the fruit halves H. The cradleplates 93 are of a length substantially equal to one-half the width oftrays 83, and said plates are supported from the upper edge by rods 94journaled at their ends in adjacent ends of frame 92. The plates arenormally held in relatively closed positions (Fig. 3) by a tensionspring 95 which connects said plates at one end.

Continuing back and forth, or shuttle movement, of the shuttle 90 abovetrays 83 is obtained from a constantly driven endless chain 96 disposedalongside the shuttle; there being a fixed pin 9'! rojecting laterallyfrom the drive chain 96, and said pin riding in a vertically slottedplate 98 mounted on one side of the shuttle 90 at the adjacent end.

With each traversing movement of the shuttle 90 it is filled with a rowof peach halves H from the carry-off conveyor 13 in the followingmanner:

As conveyor I3 advances, in the upper run, to the end overhanging trays83, the fruit halves H as supported by conveyor plates "I8 successivelyengage beneath a pair of holddown fingers 99 (Figs. 1-2, and 4) whichextend longitudinally and swingably from a cross-head I00 on the end ofthe conveyor I3, and in overhanging relation to the rear end portion ofsaid run. The fingers 99 carry a longitudinally adjustable dependingstop IOI. With advance of conveyor I3 the fruit halves H on each plate18 are slid together by the stop I9 I, as shown in Fig. 4, and when thisoccurs said plates immediately run off of the ends of rods I9 and dropto a vertical or dependent position from chains 14, releasing saidhalves H to fall a short distance onto cradle plates 93 of the movingshuttle 99. The timing of such release with the shuttle is such as toevenly space the halves H in a row I02 on the shuttle with eachtraversing movement-of the latter;

As the shuttle approaches the end of each traversing movement, and isfilled with fruit, the cradle plates 93 automatically open, as willhereinafter appear, and the row I02, which is of a length substantiallyequal to one-half the width of the underlying tray, is deposited as ahalf-row on the tray. Thus, with one back and forth cycle, the shuttledeposits two half-tray width rows I02 on the tray in end to endalinement, forming a full cross row I93 on said tray, as indicated inFig. 1.

The cradle plates 93 are tripped downward or opened adjacent the end ofeach traversing movement of shuttle 99 by a lever and link unit I04 atone end thereof, said unit being arranged to rotate rods 9 and includesa finger I95 which strikes and rides up a frame-supported, upwardlydeflectible cam I00 at the proper point adjacent the end of each strokeof the shuttle.

After each full cross-row H33 of the halves H has been deposited on thetray, the latter is automatically stepped or moved transversely of theshuttle a suflicient distance to permit of the reception of the nextrow, and this is accomplished as follows:

The cycle of the shuttle 9:) to form each full row I03 is a stroke tothe right followed by a stroke to the left (on Fig. l), and afterreleasing the half-row I02 corresponding to the stroke to the left, theshuttle continues in such direction some further distance. With suchfurther movement of the shuttle the finger I05 passes beyond and dropsoff cam I09, so that the plates 93 again come together. Upon the reversemovement of the shuttle, the finger then passes under and raises thecam, so that no reopening of plates 93 occurs.

An extension arm I9! projects lengthwise from the left-hand end of theshuttle frame 92, and on its outer end carries a pivoted catch I08formed to pass an upstanding lever I09 as the shuttle moves such furtherdistance to the left, but to engage and swing said lever I09 toward thetrays when the movement of the shuttle is reversed and it moves to theright. The lever I 09 actuates a pawl and ratchet unit H0, which in turndrives a shaft III coupled in driving relation by a bevel gear andpinion assembly II2 to one of the shafts 85, which when rotated in onedirection advance tray supporting chains 84. The above assembly isarranged so that such swinging movement of lever I09 causes the correctmovement of the tray underlying the shuttle. After it is released by thecatch I08, the lever I09 is returned by spring H3 to its normal positionagainst a stop IM.

When the last full row E03 of halves H is deposited in the trayunderlying the shuttle, the tray must be slipped ahead on the nextmovement thereof an additional distance in order to shift the abuttingend cleats I I5 of adjacent trays beyond the transverse vertical planein which the shuttle releases the fruit halves therefrom, and toproperly position the following one of said adjacent trays to receivethe initial full row I03 therein. This is accomplished by means of atrigger I I6 which trails in the leading one of said adjacent trays atthe side; said trigger extending from a cross-shaft II'I having a radiallever H8 connected by a link H9 with stop H4 which is pivotally mountedto swing out of the way of the tray advance control lever I09. As theabutting end cleats I I 5 advance with the trays to the position wherethe leading tray is to receive the last full row I03, the trigger H9rides up onto the abutting cleats H5, rotating shaft Ill, and by meansof link I I9 withdrawing the stop I I4 from behind lever I 09. When thisoccurs the lever I09 is pulled by spring I I3 against a stop pin I20 andthus substantially further away from the trays than normal. Consequentlyon the next stroke to the right and after catch 108 has engaged saidlever, the latter is thrown a greater distance than for normalrow-to-row spacing, and the abutted end cleats H5 move ahead therequired distance to properly position the trailing one of said adjacenttrays to receive its first full row H33. When trigger H6 falls into saidtrailing tray the normal position of stop H4 is reestablished.

The leading or full tray, which has been automatically filled with rowsof fruit halves, is then removed from the tray-supporting and shiftingunit 82 without in any way disturbing continued operation of the latter.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there hasbeen produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of theinvention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new anduseful and upon which Letters Patent is desired:

1. A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta drying tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement beneath said end of the conveyor lengthwise thereofand transversely of the tray, means to reciprocate the shuttlemechanism,

means operative to feed fruit from the conveyor onto the moving shuttlemechanism in a row, and means to release the row of fruit from theshuttle mechanism onto the drying tray when said shuttle mechanismreaches a predetermined position relative to said tray.

A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta drying tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement beneath said end of the conveyor lengthwise thereofand transversely of the tray, means to reciprocate the shuttlemechanism, means operative to feed fruit from the conveyor onto themoving shuttle mechanism in a row, and means to release the row of fruitfrom the shuttle mechanism onto the drying tray when said shuttlemechanism reaches a predetermined position relative to said tray; saidshuttle mechanism comprising a frame, and a fruit carrier including apart pivotally mounted on the frame for movement between a normal fruitsupporting position to a fruit discharging position, said carrier partbeing responsive to said release means.

3, A drying tray loading machine as in claim 2 in which said fruitcarrier includes a pair of longitudinally extending plates disposed inside by side relation and pivoted to the frame for downward andlaterally outward swinging movement relative to each other, and meansnormally but yieldably maintaining said plates in adjacent, fruitsupporting position; said release means comprising a cam assemblyarranged to swing said plates.

4. A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta drying tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement beneath said end of the conveyor lengthwise thereofand transversely of the tray, means to reciprocate the shuttlemechanism, means operative to feed fruit from the conveyor onto themoving shuttle mechanism in a row, and means to release the row of fruitfrom the shuttle mechanism onto the drying tray when said shuttlemechanism reaches a predetermined position relative to said tray; saidshuttle mechanism including an open frame, a pair of longitudinallyextending cradle plates disposed in side by side relation and mounted inthe frame for downward separating movement, and means normally butyieldably holding said plates in adjacent, fruit supporting relation,said release means being carried in part by the shuttle mechanism andoperative to cause downward separating movement of said plates when theshuttle mechanism reaches said predetermined position relative to thetray.

5. A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta drying tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement beneath said end of the conveyor lengthwise thereofand transversely of the tray, means to reciprocate the shuttlemechanism, means operative to feed fruit from the conveyor onto themoving shuttle mechanism in a row, and means to release the row of fruitfrom the shuttle mechanism onto the drying tray when said shuttlemechanism reaches a predetermined position relative to said tray; saidrelease means including a movable finger projecting from the shuttlemechanism, and a cam mounted in the path of said finger to engage andmove the same when said mechanism reaches said predetermined position.

6. A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta drying tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement beneath said end of the conveyor lengthwise thereofand transversely of the tray, means to reciprocate the shuttlemechanism, means operative to feed fruit from the conveyor onto themoving shuttle mechanism in a row, means to release the row of fruitfrom the shuttle mechanism onto the drying tray when said shuttlemechanism reaches a predetermined position relative to said tray, andmeans operative thereafter to advance the tray laterally of the conveyora predetermined distance to position the tray for reception of the neXtrow of fruit.

7. A drying tray loading machine as in claim 6 in which said traysupporting mean's comprises an endless conveyor upon which drying traysare disposed in abutting end to end relation; said last named meansincluding a pawl and ratchet unit connected in operative rela tion tosaid endless conveyor and having an actuating lever, and means on theshuttle mechanism arranged to engage and swing said lever in a trayadvancing direction after the shuttle mechanismrhas released a row offruit onto the row.

8. A drying tray loading machine as in claim 6 in which said traysupporting means comprises an endless conveyor upon which drying traysare disposed in abutting end to end relation; said last named meansincluding a pawl and ratchet unit connected in operative relation tosaid endless conveyor and having an actuating lever, means on theshuttle mechanism arranged to engage and swing said lever in a trayadvancing direction after the shuttle mechanism has released a row offruit onto the row, and other means actuated by said abutting tray endsarranged to position said lever to obtain a proportionately greateradvance of the trays when said abutting ends thereof reach a givenposition beneath said shuttle mechanism.

9. A drying tray loading machine comprising a substantially horizontal,driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adapted to be conveyed insingle-file order, means below said conveyor at one end thereof tosupport a drying tray for lateral movement, the conveyor overhangingsubstantially one-half the tray, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement transversely of and above the tray and lengthwisebeneath the conveyor, means to reciprocate said shuttle mechanism, meansto feed fruit from the conveyor onto the shuttle mechanism in a row witheach stroke of said mechanism, means operative adjacent the end of eachstroke to discharge the row from the shuttle mechanism onto the tray,said mechanism discharging onto one-half of the tray on one stroke andonto the other half of the tray but in alinement on the following strokeof each cycle, and means to advance the tray laterally a predetermineddistance after each such cycle of the shuttle mechanism.

10. A drying tray loading machine comprising a substantially horizontal,driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adapted to be conveyed insingle-file order, means below said conveyor at one end thereof tosupport a drying tray for lateral movement, the conveyor overhangingsubstantially one-half the tray, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement transversely of and above the tray and lengthwisebeneath the conveyor, means to reciprocate said shuttle mechanism, meansto feed fruit from the conveyor onto the shuttle mechanism in a row witheach stroke of said mechanism, means operative adjacent the end of eachstroke to discharge the row from the shuttle mechanism onto the tray,said mechanism discharging onto onehalf of the tray on one stroke andonto the other half of the tray but in alinement on the following strokeof each cycle, and means to advance the tray laterally a predetermineddistance after each such cycle of the shuttle mechanism; said shuttlemechanism discharging means including a movable finger mounted on andprojecting from said shuttle mechanism, and a cam mounted in the path ofsaid finger adjacent the end of each stroke of said mechanism whereby toengage and move the finger and cause discharge of the row of fruit.

11. A drying tray loading machine compris ing a substantiallyhorizontal, driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adapted to be conveyedin single-file order, means below said conveyor at one end thereof tosupport a drying tray for lateral movement, the conveyor overhangingsubstantially one-half the tray, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement transversely of and above the tray and lengthwisebeneath the conveyor, means to reciprocate said shuttle mechanism, meansto feed fruit from the conveyor onto the shuttle mechanism in a row witheach stroke of said mechanism, means operative adjacent the end of eachstroke to discharge the row from the shuttle mechanism onto the tray,said mechanism discharging onto one half of the tray on one stroke andonto the other half of the tray but in alinement on the following strokeof each cycle, and means to advance the tray laterally a predetermineddistance after each such cycle of the shuttle mechanism; said last namedmeans being responsive to and actuated by shuttle mechanism movementbetween discharges of said mechanism.

12. A drying tray loading machine comprising a conveyor including asubstantially horizontal conveyor includin transversely spaced endlesschains, flexible and resilient conveyor plates hinged to said chains andnormally projecting laterally inwardly in matching, fruit supportingrelation, and stationary rods beneath said conveyor plates supportingthe same in the upper run of the conveyor against lowering movement fromsaid normal position; means below said conveyor at the discharge endthereof to support a drying tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfershuttle mechanism mounted for movement lengthwise and beneath thedischarge end of the conveyor, means to reciprocate said shuttlemechanism, the conveyor plate supporting rods terminating short of saidend of the conveyor whereby when the plates reach such end they escapethe rods and drop to a depending position, releasing the supported fruitinto the shuttle mechanism, in a row, and means to release the row offruit from the shuttle mechanism onto the tray when said shuttlemechanism reaches a predetermined position relative to the tray.

13. A drying tray loading machine as in claim 12 in which the fruit isdisposed on said conveyor and supported by the plates in single fileorder, a hold-down finger unit mounted on the conveyer adjacent saiddischarge end and under which the fruit engages immediately prior toescape of the plates from the rods, and a fruit stop element dependingfrom said fin er unit to properly position fruit on said plates prior torelease of the fruit onto the shuttle mechanism.

14. A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta drying tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement beneath said end of the conveyor lengthwise thereofand transversely of the tray, means to reciprocate the shuttlemechanism, means operative to feed fruit from the conveyor onto themoving shuttle mechanism in a row, and means to release the row of fruitfrom the shuttle mechanism onto the drying tray when said shuttlemechanism reaches a predetermined position relative to said tray; saidshuttle mechanism reciprocating means comprising an endless, drivenchain mounted alongside of said mechanism with the runs of the chainvertically spaced, a vertically slotted member fixed on the shuttlemechanism and upstanding adjacent the chain, and a pin fixed on thechain and projecting into the slot in said member.

15. A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta drying tray for lateral movement, a pair of transversely spaced railsdisposed horizontally below said end of the conveyor and extendinlengthwise thereof and across the tray, a shuttle mechanism carriagesupported on said rails for movement beneath said end of the conveyorand transversely of the tray, an endless, driven chain mounted alongsidethe path of movement of the shuttle mechanism, means between the chainand said mechanism to reciprocate the latter, means operative to feedfruit from the conveyor onto the moving shuttle mechanism in a row, andmeans to release the row of fruit from the shuttle mechanism onto thedrying tray when said shuttle mechanism reaches a predetermined positionrelative to the tray.

16. A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta dryin tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement beneath said 'end of the conveyor lengthwisethereof and transversely of the tray, means to reciprocate the shuttlemechanism, means operative to feed fruit from the conveyor onto themoving shuttle mechanism in a row, and means to release the row of fruitfrom the shuttle mechanism onto the drying tray when said shuttlemechanism reaches a predetermined position relative to said tray; saidtray supporting means comprising a pair of spaced endless chains mountedwith the upper runs thereof in horizontal alignment and for supportingengagement with the tray, and a sprocket shaft about which said chainsengage at one end.

17. A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta drying tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement beneath said end of the conveyor lengthwise thereofand transversely of the tray, means to reciprocate the shuttlemechanism, means operative to feed fruit from the conveyor onto themoving shuttle mechanism in a row, and means to release the row of fruitfrom the shuttle mechanism onto the drying tray when said shuttlemechanism reaches a predetermined position relative to said tray; saidtray supp-ortil'lg means comprising a pair of spaced endless chainsmounted with the upper runs thereof in horizontal alignment and forsupporting engagement with the tray, and a sprocket shaft about whichsaid chains engage at one end, there being means operative to rotatesaid shaft and advance the supported tray a predetermineddistance afterrelease of each row of fruit from the shuttle mechanism.

18. A drying tray loading machine comprising, in combination, asubstantially horizontal driven conveyor on which cut fruit is adaptedto be conveyed, means below said conveyor at one end thereof to supporta drying tray for lateral movement, a fruit transfer shuttle mechanismmounted for movement beneath said end of the conveyor lengthwise thereofand transversely of the tray, means to reciprocate the shuttlemechanism, means operative to feed fruit from the conveyor onto themoving shuttle mechanism in a row, and means to release the row of fruitfrom the shuttle mechanism onto the drying tray when said shuttlemechanism reaches a predetermined position relative to said tray; saidtray supporting means comprising a pair of spaced endless chains mountedwith the upper runs thereof in horizontal alignment and for supportingengagement with the tray, and a sprocket shaft about which said chainsengage at one end, there being means responsive to shuttle mechanismmovement operative to rotate said shaft and advance th supported tray apredetermined distance after release of said row of fruit from theshuttle mechanism.

NORMAN E. GADDINI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,090,855 Jagenberg Mar. 24, 19141,312,640 Mallinckrodt Aug. 12, 1919 1,896,639 Meyer et al Feb. 7, 19332,297,253 Scotti Sept. 29, 1942

